April 5, 2021

Contact-less merchandise pick up is available at SPAAR during office business hours. Due to Covid, the SPAAR building is closed to members through June 30, 2021. Email spaar@spaar.com or call (651) 776-6000 with any questions.

In this issue of SPAAR's eNews: Rent control: seeking Realtor® input and involvement 2021 scholarship opportunities are now available Let your creativity shine in honor of Fair Housing Now open: NAR's 2022 Committee application process SPAAR Member Megan Steinmetz honored as 30 Under 30 Be part of the digital food drive for Every Meal TISH Board is seeking member from real estate Weekly safety tips as provided by SPAAR and its members Housing Market Statistics Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only welcome, new members!

Rent control: seeking Realtor® input and involvement

A coalition of community groups has announced a petition to put Rent Control on the ballot in Saint Paul this November. The group, Housing Equity Now St. Paul, is proposing to cap rent increases on all residential properties in the City to three percent each year.   Rent Control has been tried around the U.S. and economists agree it produces a net negative for the cities where it has been implemented. Rent Control reduces the supply of adequate rental housing, investment in new rental housing development plummets, and maintenance deteriorates because the financial incentives to maintain a quality property are no longer present. If you or a Realtor® you know would be willing to assist SPAAR in efforts to gather information on Rent Control in Saint Paul, please contact either of SPAAR's Government Affairs Directors: Simon Opatz at sopatz@gmail.com or (763) 489-3306, or Becky Wegscheid at bwegscheid@spaar.com or (651) 772-6350

2021 scholarship opportunities are now available

SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation in 2021 will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to the children or grandchildren of current SPAAR members who will enroll as new or continuing students in college or trade school. Click here for complete information and to apply. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2021. Have questions about REALTORS® Charitable Foundation scholarships? Email spaar@spaar.com.

Let your creativity shine in honor of Fair Housing

This year SPAAR is conducting a coloring contest focused on Fair Housing and it's open to everyone to participate. Please read the contest rules here and share with anyone who might enjoy putting their creativity to use in honor of Fair Housing Month in April, when contest winners will be announced. SPAAR's Fair Housing Coloring Contest is being published in a select number of community papers within SPAAR's northern, central and southern jurisidictions that will reach more than 30,000 households as another way to spread the word about the importance of Fair Housing and equal housing opportunities for everyone. The Fair Housing coloring contest entry deadline is April 16.

Now open: NAR's 2022 Committee application process

It's that time of year again! NAR's 2022 Committee Application Process is open now through May 7, 2021. NAR leaders are excited to see passionate members apply for and serve on the national committees. Please consider applying for a 2022 committee and encourage other members to do the same. Below are some helpful resources for the 2022 process:  Application Website Appointment Timeline FAQs Committee Composition & Structure Appointment Policies Questions? Call Member Support at (800) 874-6500.

SPAAR Member Megan Steinmetz honored as 30 Under 30

Congratulations are in order for Megan Steinmetz, a SPAAR member and agent with Keller Williams Classic Realty in Coon Rapids recently named in REALTOR® Magazine as part of the 30 Under 30 class of 2021. Megan specializes in lakefront properties and shares a bit about her real estate work here. Congratulations, Megan!

Be part of the digital food drive for Every Meal

Let’s come together while we stay apart. SPAAR supports Every Meal, which focuses on the food gaps when children aren’t able to receive free and reduced meal programs. Every Meal also provides weekend and other food gap programs serving more than 10,000 children across 300 schools. Below are ways you can help: Make a gift online: Every Meal | Donate | There are many ways to fight child hunger Add groceries to SPAAR’s digital food drive: Digital, Contactless Food Drive - Every Meal Match this: The first $1,000 in contributions from SPAAR members will be matched by the Community Engagement and Affiliate Committees. To receive the match, enter “SPAAR” or “REALTOR” in notes when you check out. Thank you. Your donation makes a difference!

TISH Board is seeking member from real estate

The Truth-in-Sale of Housing (TISH) Board is currently looking to fill vacancies for the following positions: 1) legal profession; 2) financial industry; 3) architectural or engineering profession; 4) general-public member; 5) builder contracting industry; and 6) real estate profession. Length of term is three years.   If you are interested in applying to become a member of the TISH Board, please click on the following link and fill out the online application: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/mayors-office/committees-boards-and-commissions   The TISH Board is the policy maker for the TISH program and oversees the establishment of all program components. This includes evaluator testing and licensing, continuing education requirements, setting all fees, and conducting hearings on disciplinary actions against evaluator licenses. The board is also responsible for reviewing and updating the following as necessary: board bylaws; evaluator code of ethics, evaluator guidelines, and the disclosure form utilized by evaluators.   The board meets quarterly with meetings scheduled for the second Wednesday in January, April, July and October from 3:30 to 5pm. All meetings are being conducted via Skype due to Covid-19 restrictions.   If you have any questions, please contact Vicki Sheffer at vicki.sheffer@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Weekly safety tips as provided by SPAAR and its members SPAARky says: A few seconds can make all the difference As the weather gets nicer outside and daylight lengthens, take a few extra seconds as you walk toward your destination to check out potential risks. -Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet? -Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street? -Is anyone loitering in the area? Observing these few things can be just what it takes to know your surroundings and if you feel safe, or if you want to take precautions and contact someone or even leave the area.

What is your #1 safety tip to share?

Please share your safety tip and provide your name and email by sending an email to Jennifer at jkovacich@spaar.com. Member safety tips will be shared in future issues of eNews. Thank you to all who have submitted one or more safety tips. Keep them coming!

Housing Market Statistics

Get up-to-date housing market information here. SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing: Local Market Updates Weekly Market Activity Report Housing Supply Overview Monthly Market Indicators

Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only

Check out the SPAAR Facebook page created specifically for members here.

Welcome, new members!

Introducing SPAAR's newest members. Welcome, all! We're glad you're here.

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